Goals Run Dry for Hounds in Texas Heat
Published on June 18, 2022 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC News Release
It was a second straight road setback for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, as advantages in shots and possession didn't translate into goals in a 1-0 loss to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros tonight at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas.
Ricky Ruiz scored late in the first half for the Toros (7-8-1) in the first-ever meeting between the two teams, while the Hounds (7-5-3) were shut out in consecutive league matches for the first time since August 2021.
The Hounds outshot the Toros, 10-5, and they had a significant edge with 62 percent of the possession in the game. The setback drops the team's road record to 2-5-2, but three of the next four are at home, where the Hounds remain undefeated.
First half
As one would expect with first-time opponents, the game got off to a cagey start, and neither team recorded a shot in the first 10 minutes.
RGV had the first close chance in the 27th minute, when Isidro Martinez struck the left post after the Toros forced a turnover and moved in transition.
Shortly after, the Toros took the lead when Luka Malesevic launched a high cross from the right side of the field toward the back post. Ruiz got between defenders, though with not much space, he opted to hit the shot on his first touch and found the right corner of the net in the 34th minute.
Second half
The Hounds began the half bringing Alex Dixon off the bench. It was the 200th career USL Championship appearance for Dixon, who missed last week's match for the birth of his first child.
Traffic flowed the Hounds' direction for much of the half, as they had 64 percent of the ball and held RGV to one shot. Despite that, the team took until the final 15 minutes to really test goalkeeper Javier Garcia.
Albert Dikwa forced a save at close range after Dane Kelly slipped a pass through to him, and the Toros were able to scramble the ball away with Kelly and Dixon looming on the second chance.
Dikwa momentarily thought he had a stoppage-time equalizer after being played in behind the defense, but the offside flag was correctly raised as the Hounds' striker put the ball in the net. A last-minute shot by Dixon was saved by Garcia, who made three stops in the shutout.
Hounds Man of the Match
Alex Dixon came off the bench and immediately made the Hounds' attack seem a bit more potent. His four shots were most on the team, he connected on 83 percent of his passes in the final third, and his five touches in the RGV box were second only to starter Russell Cicerone.
What's next?
After playing four of its past five matches on the road, the Hounds will start to see more home games, beginning with a tough assignment against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. The Rowdies (7-3-6) drew 1-1 earlier tonight at home against the resurgent Charleston Battery.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 18, 2022
- San Antonio FC Draws Oakland Roots SC 1-1 - San Antonio FC
- Post-Game Quotes - RGV FC vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Phoenix Rising Falls, 4-3, to Loudoun United FC - Phoenix Rising FC
- Switchbacks FC Earn 11th Win against Indy Eleven - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Trio of Set Piece Goals Secure LouCity Win, Top of Eastern Conference - Louisville City FC
- Oakland Roots Score First and Leave Texas with a Point - Oakland Roots
- Battery Battle Back in Florida to Earn Point in 1-1 Draw - Charleston Battery
- Goals Run Dry for Hounds in Texas Heat - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Rowdies Left Frustrated in 1-1 Charleston Draw - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Hartford Open Up in Second Half, 3-0 Victory at Atlanta - Hartford Athletic
- Ruiz Scores Lone Goal to Boost RGV to Home Win - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Atlanta United 2 Falls 3-0 to Hartford Athletic - Atlanta United 2
- Detroit City, El Paso Battle to 1-1 Draw at Sold-Out Keyworth - Detroit City FC
- El Paso Locomotive and Detroit City FC Play to 1-1 Stalemate - El Paso Locomotive FC
- Roots Head to San Antonio for First Time - Oakland Roots
- USL Academy Midfielder Giovanni Sanna-Lenzi Joins First Team Training - Miami FC
- D.C. United Acquire Defender Rio Hope-Gund on Loan from Loudoun United FC - Loudoun United FC
- RGV FC Hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds for First-Ever Meeting - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
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